ST. JOHN’S, Antigua, Jan 23, CMC – The main opposition United Progressive Party (UPP), has reappointed Leon ‘Chaku’ Symister as the party’s representative to the Constituencies Boundaries Commission.
Symister’s appointment was made in the wake of growing concerns over voter disparity across constituencies.
Opposition leader Jamale Pringle announced his decision to retain Symister, citing his previous experience on the Commission and his legal expertise as crucial assets.
In a press release on Wednesday , Pringle expressed confidence that Symister “will properly advocate for the stated objectives of the Commission, which include achieving voter parity, and will advance the push for true democracy in election outcomes”.
Symister, an attorney, who is scheduled receive his official instruments of appointment from Governor General Sir Rodney Williams on Thursday has already highlighted several challenges facing the Commission, including the lack of dedicated staff, office space, or resources for public consultation.
Speaking to local media on the weekend, he argued that the Commission “should no longer be treated as a stepchild of the Constitution”, and should have its own budget and infrastructure in order to operate effectively as an independent body.
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